Vol. 30, No. 6
JUNE-JULY 2005
THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE
A publication of Mid-Florida Council of the Blind
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM MFCB PRESIDENT RACHEL BADER
NEXT MFCB MEETING - ANNUAL JUNE AWARDS LUNCHEON
MAY GENERAL MEETING REVIEW
ACCESSIBLE VOTING WILL BE A REALITY IN MFCB COUNTRY
2005 FCB CONVENTION A HUGE SUCCESS
FCB HAS A DISCUSSION LIST AND NEW VOICE CHAT ROOMS
MFCB ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
BLINDNESS DOESN'T DETER MEDICAL STUDENT
MFCB PUTS SOME THOUGHT INTO THE SUMMER
MEMBERSHIP - from Jay Bader
BIRTHDAY PEOPLE
MESSAGE FROM MFCB PRESIDENT RACHEL BADER
Hello All. I hope all of you are prepared to have a great summer. As you’ll see later in this issue, some good things are happening for the
blind and vision impaired of Central Florida. In part, it is due to the enthusiasm, dedication, and hard work of so many of you, our own
MFCB members. Thank you and keep up the great work.
With summer comes yet another American Council of the Blind Convention. This year, all the proceedings will be taking place from the
Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. I very much look forward to going and representing the Florida Council of the Blind and our Mid-Florida
chapter there. You too have an opportunity to join us, albeit virtually. See how things work on the national level for yourself by listening to
coverage of each day’s proceedings on ACB Radio Mainstream throughout the Convention week. As Convention time nears, check the
ACB Radio home page at http://www.acbradio.org for details or keep an eye on the ACB Radio
Friends and Announcements e-mail lists.
All of you have a great summer and I look forward to seeing you in September, if not before at the Annual June Awards Luncheon.
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
NEXT MFCB MEETING - ANNUAL JUNE AWARDS LUNCHEON
The next Meeting of MFCB will be the Annual June Awards Luncheon. It will be held at Buttermilk's, 9001 South Highway 17-92, Fern Park,
FL 32730, on Saturday, June 11th, 2005, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The phone number at Buttermilk's is (407) 332-6446.
It is highly recommended that if anyone uses paratransit, please plan your rides accordingly. Buttermilk's is directly across 17-92 from
the Go-Cart Track, on the east side of the highway, between State Road 436 and Maitland Avenue. There are brightly colored "WELCOME"
flags flying out in front of the restaurant.
Buttermilk's features down home cookin', with such entrees as country fried steak, catfish, Mom's Meatloaf and some wonderful chicken
creations. Meals come with two sides, which include, in addition to the standards, such delicacies as fried okra, greens, fried cheese
grits, blackeyed peas and marvelously seasoned green beans. Meals generally range in price from $8.99 to $9.99.
Of course, there are sandwiches of all sorts available as well. Gratuity is not included. So invite friends and family to join in on the food
and fun at Buttermilk's in Fern Park as MFCB recognizes some very special people and sends the membership off with full stomachs for
the summer!
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
MAY GENERAL MEETING REVIEW
26 Members and guests attended the MFCB General Meeting on May 7th at Booth Towers in downtown Orlando. 1st Vice President
Patti Land began the meeting with leading the Members in attendance with the Pledge of Allegiance, then gave those in the room the
chance to introduce themselves.
After the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports were read and approved, Patti announced that MFCB would donate a $25.00 cash prize to be
awarded at the FCB Annual Convention in Ft. Lauderdale. President Rachel Bader, who took the podium after she arrived, added that all
those who were selected as delegates and alternate delegates have committed to going to the Convention.
In Committee reports, Nicole Hugues spoke on behalf of the Transportation Committee, letting Members know that Access Lynx pre-paid
tickets are now available. She also talked briefly about Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) bills going around in Tallahassee,
recommending that Members contact their local representatives to express their thoughts about these respective bills.
For the Activities Committee, Patti announced that due to state conventions of both FCB and NFB-Florida, no activity is scheduled for the
month of May. However, she did say that the Annual June Awards Luncheon would be held at Buttermilk's on 17-92 in Fern Park on
Saturday, June 11th. The Membership/Telephone Committee would remind Members of the Luncheon as we get closer to that date.
As there was no Old Business to discuss, Membership Secretary Jay Bader told Members that accessible voting will happen in Orange,
Osceola and Seminole counties (Details on this later in this issue.). He recommended that Members participate in their respective
county with the process as MFCB could be a part of Voting Advisory Committees in each county. Scott Larson added that since he
resides in Volusia County, they will have accessible voting in place as well.
Nicole submitted an article from the May 7th Orlando Sentinel to be included in the next issue of THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE. Sheila Young
then announced that she has a new job as a paraprofessional with Orange County Public Schools, which drew much applause from
those in attendance.
With the next MFCB Meeting being the Annual June Awards Luncheon, Rachel made a motion that the next General Meeting would be
back at Booth Towers on Saturday, September 10th, since the first weekend in September would be Labor Day Weekend and many
Members may be out-of-town then. It was seconded and approved. Jim Lamb also made a motion to have added into the MFCB By-Laws
a special notation of the Connie Rotter Memorial Scholarship being awarded at the Annual June Luncheon, which was also seconded
and approved. The By-Laws Committee would draw up the appropriate wording for the formal approval process.
The fundraiser for the May General Meeting was a Bake Sale, which raised $65.00. Special thanks to Betty Sparrow and Elizabeth Bouyer
for conducting such a fun fundraiser.
Then the following Door Prizes were picked, based on the winners who chose them:
Apple Pie Candle with Holder - Deanna Char (guest at the Meeting)
Wind Chimes - Rachel Bader
Lighthouse Figurine - Nicole Hugues
Heart Suncatcher - Betty Sparrow
Pound Cake (from the Bake Sale) - Rob Batts
Congratulations to all the Door Prize winners! In addition, Rachel thanked Jim Lamb for buying the pizza that was served at the
Meeting.
After the meeting adjourned, MFCB 1st Vice President Patti Land hosted an interactive presentation called "Mothers and Memories." Patti
especially gave a background on Mother's Day itself through history, which was told in Patti's one-of-kind style.
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
ACCESSIBLE VOTING WILL BE A REALITY IN MFCB COUNTRY
Many counties in Florida are preparing to comply with the Florida mandate related to the Help America Vote Act of 2002, better known as
HAVA. The state deadline for having at least one accessible voting booth in each voting precinct of a respective county is July 1st, 2005.
With that in mind, MFCB has been in contact with the Supervisors of Elections in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
As this issue goes to press, Supervisors of Elections in Osceola and Seminole counties have contacted MFCB President Rachel Bader,
stating that each would be in compliance by that July 1st deadline. While neither Supervisor was specific as to what specifically would be
done for compliance, as meetings with their respective Board of County Commissioners would be forthcoming to discuss proper
funding, it was assuring to know that those Supervisors of Elections were doing their part to insure the disabled could cast the secret,
independent ballot that is our right in America.
As far as accessible voting in Orange County is concerned, here's what was posted to the Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) Listserv, on
May 24th, 2005, as MFCB President Rachel Bader and Membership Secretary Jay Bader attended the Orange County Board of County
Commissioners Meeting that day:
May 24th, 2005, was a historic day for the disabled in Orange County. At the weekly Board of County Commissioners Meeting, Supervisor
of Elections Bill Cowles made a presentation concerning Accessible Voting in Orange County. This presentation outlined the work
involved in recommending equipment that would put the county in compliance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) by the Florida state
mandate of July 1st, 2005.
First, the Division of Elections awarded Orange County over $1.14 million to assist with purchasing accessible voting equipment for
meeting HAVA requirements. In addition, the county had received $866,250 from the state of Florida as a rebate for previously purchased
voting systems, the money being held in a grant fund for future purchases. So there would be over $2 million available to make
accessible voting a reality in Orange County, without having to request any money from the Board of County Commissioners.
After the Orange County 2005 Voting Equipment Committee reviewed all proposals for accessible voting equipment, the recommendation
Supervisor of Elections Cowles presented today was for accepting the proposal made by Elections Systems and Software (ES & S)
for their iVotronic, which had been demonstrated to both Mid-Florida Council of the Blind (MFCB) and the National Federation of the
Blind-Greater Orlando Chapter (NFB-Orlando) at separate meetings in 2004. This machine drew positive reviews by both organizations,
among others in the Orlando area. The proposal was unanimously accepted, with the official purchase of a machine for each of Orange
County's 253 precincts being made before the July 1st, 2005, deadline for HAVA compliance in the state of Florida.
MFCB extends its appreciation to both the Board of County Commissioners in Orange County as well as Commissioner Bill Segal, Judge
Fred Lauten and especially Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles for all their efforts in making accessible voting a reality in Orange County.
MFCB also recommends that all those disabled who currently take advantage of absentee balloting consider the advantages of actively
participating in casting a vote through accessible voting. With the success of early voting in 2004, it makes all the more sense that with an
accessible voting machine in each precinct shortly in Orange County, those disabled can finally cast a secret, independent ballot for the
candidate(s) of their choice.
MFCB looks forward to working with Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles as the next steps are taken to insure the
accessible voting process a smooth and successful one for those disabled in Orange County.
In addition to that posting, MFCB wants to invite its Members to participate in their respective county and be a part of the voting process.
Technology has allowed the disabled to get to this point and now it is up to those disabled to no longer resort to casting an absentee
ballot. The time has finally come for everyone to be able to cast a secret, independent ballot, and MFCB is proud to be involved with other
disability organizations to make it a process we all can be proud of.
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
2005 FCB CONVENTION A HUGE SUCCESS
The 2005 Convention of the Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) was a memorable one at the Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel, in Ft.
Lauderdale, FL. It was one filled with many happy moments and times where anyone around the world could listen to what was
happening. This year's FCB Convention was the first to be streamed on the Internet to a worldwide audience, and MFCB was proud to
have been heavily involved in that process.
MFCB President Rachel Bader hosted the FCB Convention coverage, which was available as an extra part of ACB Radio Mainstream.
With technical assistance from Larry Turnbull as well as MFCB Membership Secretary Jay Bader, you heard the coverage begin with the
Awards Dinner on Friday night, May 13th, continuing on Saturday, May 14th, with Opening Ceremonies, coverage of various workshops,
the Annual Town Hall Meeting and a Banquet and Concert that was enjoyed by all, and wrapped up with the Annual Business Meeting on
Sunday, May 15th.
Even though the planning for this coverage came along with not much time to prepare, FCB President Paul Edwards was extremely happy
with the end result. And he is sure that when the 2006 FCB Convention comes to the Sheraton Safari in Lake Buena Vista, things will turn
out even better. There was one other exciting moment that no one expected during the 2005 Annual FCB Convention.
The FCB Raffle that took place after the Awards Dinner resulted in many winners from the MFCB area. The $500 prize was won by MFCB
Immediate Past President Leslie Spoone; the $300 prize winner was Rosanna Bolduc of Winter Park; and a $50 Publix Gift Certificate,
contributed by the Pinellas Chapter of FCB, was won by Christine Campbel of Orlando. In fact, the FCB Raffle raised over $7000.
Congratulations goes out not only to the FCB Raffle Winners from MFCB country but also to those MFCB Members who attended the 52nd
Annual FCB Convention. Now the countdown starts to when FCB visits our area for the next events on its calendar. Mark down the
following dates:
2005 FCB Mid-Year Board Meeting. It will take place for the third consecutive year at the Sheraton Safari in Lake Buena Vista, November
18th through 20th, 2005.
2006 Annual FCB Convention, Sheraton Safari, Lake Buena Vista, May 11th through 14th, 2006
More on these events as we draw closer to them, especially in THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE.
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
FCB HAS A DISCUSSION LIST AND NEW VOICE CHAT ROOMS
Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) is proud to have its members throughout the state participate in a couple of ways on the Internet. The
FCB E-mail Discussion List is a way for members, locally and statewide, to express themselves freely on a variety of issues. These can
range from those on a local level to issues on a state or even national platform.
MFCB encourages all Members with E-mail and Internet access to sign up and participate in the various discussions as well as maybe
even starting a few. To sign up for the FCB E-mail Discussion List, and for more information about the List, go to the FCB website at
http://www.fcb.org and go to the link for "FCB E-mail Discussion List Information and Instructions."
And as of April 15th, 2005, FCB has opened up 2 new chat rooms for members of the organization. One of these is for general chat, the
other is for the FCB Board and its respective committees to meet. Everyone is invited to sit in on these chats, especially to participate
with those in the general chat room.
For more information about the new FCB chat rooms, especially if you want to know how you can join in on the chats, click on the link
"Voice Chat for FCB" at http://www.fcb.org.
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
MFCB ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
Mid-Florida Council of the Blind has a presence on the World Wide Web. Through the Florida Council of the Blind web site,
http://www.fcb.org, there is information available on the Internet about MFCB, especially the
newly-approved MFCB By-Laws, as well as current and some past issues of the MFCB Newsletter, both in the previous name of
MUMBLES and the newer name of THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE. This is only the beginning as another option has been made available for
people to find out what is going on with our organization.
To specifically get to the MFCB section of the FCB website, go to http://www.fcb.org/mfcb.htm.
Feedback is strongly encouraged as to the accessibility and content of the website, so if you have any questions or suggestions, E-mail
webmaster@fcb.org. With your suggestions, changes can be made that will better what we
have on the Web.
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
BLINDNESS DOESN'T DETER MEDICAL STUDENT
MFCB Member Nicole Hugues submitted the following article, which was originally printed in the Orlando Sentinel on May 7th, 2005. It is
actually an article that was distributed nationwide by the Associated Press. This is an uplifting story for all disabled, especially those who
are blind, that you can do anything if you put your mind to accomplishing it.
The water-skier and student of musical composition is no stranger to overcoming long odds - and proving his skeptics wrong.
By SHARON COHEN
AP National Writer
MADISON, Wis. — The medical student was nervous as he slid the soft, thin tube down into the patient's windpipe. It was a delicate
maneuver, and he knew he had to get it right.
Tim Cordes leaned over the patient as his professor and a team of others closely monitored his every step. Carefully, he positioned the
tube, waiting for the special signal that oxygen was flowing.
The anesthesia machine was set to emit musical tones to confirm the tube was in the trachea and carbon dioxide was present. Soon,
Cordes heard the sounds. He had completed the intubation.
Several times over two weeks, Cordes performed this task at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. His professor, Dr. George
Arndt, marveled at his student's skills.
"He was 100 percent," the doctor says. "He did it better than the people who could see."
Tim Cordes is blind.
He has mastered much in his 28 years: jujitsu, biochemistry, water-skiing, musical composition. Any one of these accomplishments
would be impressive. Together, they're dazzling. And now, there's a new title: Doctor.
Cordes has earned his M.D.
In a world where skeptics always seem to be saying, "stop, this isn't something a blind person should be doing," it was one more barrier
to overcome. There are only a handful of blind doctors in this country. But Cordes makes it clear he could not have joined this elite club
alone.
"I signed on with a bunch of real team players who decided that things are only impossible until they're done," he says.
That's modesty speaking. Cordes finished medical school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the top sixth of his class (he
received just one B), earning honors, accolades and admirers along the way.
Without sight, Cordes had to learn how to identify clusters of spaghetti-thin nerves and vessels in cadavers, study X-rays, read EKGs and
patient charts, examine slides showing slices of the brain, diagnose rashes — and more.
He used a variety of tools, including raised line drawings, a computer that reads into his earpiece whatever he types, a visual describer, a
portable printer that allowed him to write notes for patient charts, and a device called an Optacon that has a small camera with vibrating
pins that help his fingers feel images.
"It was kind of whatever worked," Cordes says. "Sometimes you can psych yourself out and anticipate problems that don't materialize. ...
You can sit there and plan for every contingency or you just go out and do things. ... That was the best way."
That's been his philosophy much of his life. Cordes was just 5 months old when he was diagnosed with Leber's disease. He wore
glasses by age 2, and gradually lost his sight. At age 16, when his peers were getting their car keys, he took his first steps with a guide
dog.
Still, blindness didn't stop him.
Cordes finished medical school in December but still is working on his Ph.D., studying the structure of a protein involved in a bacteria
that causes pneumonia and other infections.
He's even found time to fall in love; he's engaged to a medical school student.
But Tim Cordes doesn't want to be cast as the noble hero of a Hallmark special.
"I just think that you deal with what you're dealt," he says. "I've just been trying to do the best with what I've got. I don't think that's any
different than anybody else."
Through the years, plenty of people have underestimated Cordes.
That was especially true when he applied for medical school and was rejected by several universities. Even when Wisconsin-Madison
accepted him, Cordes says, he knew there was "some healthy skepticism." But, he adds, "the people I worked with were top-notch and
really gave me a chance."
The dean of the medical school, Dr. Philip Farrell, says the faculty determined early on that Cordes would have "a successful experience.
Once you decide that, it's only a question of options and choices."
Farrell worried a bit how Cordes might fare in the hospital settings, but says he needn't have.
"We've learned from him as much as he's learned from us ... one should never assume that any student is going to have a barrier, an
obstacle, that they can't overcome," he says.
Cordes once thought he'd become a researcher but is now considering psychiatry and internal medicine. "The surprise for me was how
much I liked dealing with the human side," he says. "It took a little work to get over. I'm kind of a shy guy."
For now, he's humble about his latest milestone.
"I might be the front man in the show but there were lot of people involved," he says. "Everybody was giving a good effort for me and I
wanted to do right by them."
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
MFCB PUTS SOME THOUGHT INTO THE SUMMER
With the summer months comes the time for MFCB Members to take a break and spend some time doing whatever and wherever they
wish. There will be some who will attend the 2005 American Council of the Blind Convention in Las Vegas in early July. Others will avoid
all the hot weather and go to cooler climates.
MFCB Member Sheila Young submitted some uses for Bounce dryer sheets. See what you think of these ideas this summer and try
them out for yourself.
1. My mail carrier told me that the US Postal service sent out a message to all letter carriers to put a sheet of Bounce in their uniform
pockets to keep yellow jackets away. It really works. The yellow jackets just veer around you.
2. It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.
3. It also repels mice. Spread them around foundation areas, or in trailers, cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your
vehicle.
4. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
5. Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
6. Eliminates static electricity from your television (or computer) screen. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe
your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
8. Freshen the air in your home. Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
9. Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
12. Freshen the air in your car. Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static
agent apparently weakens the bond between the food.
14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.
17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.
21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. Keeps them smelling fresh.
And now that you know, print and keep on file or bounce (pass) it around. Maybe you'll find other uses of Bounce while MFCB takes a
break for the summer.
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
MEMBERSHIP - from Jay Bader
Notes from Jay: As the summer months approach, there is not much to pass along regarding Membership issues. However, when we
return from our summer break, things will hopefully pick up with the Annual MFCB Membership Drive, which begins in September. More
on this in the next issue of THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE.
Also, note the following Members' change of address and phone number:
SHEILA YOUNG
1010B Dowd Ave.
Orlando, FL 32804
(407) 299-1441
And I always accept submissions to THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE. All submissions for the August-September issue must arrive by regular
mail or E-mail to me by the 15th of July as it will be prepared shortly after that. You will be properly credited with the submission.
If you have any further questions, please call me at (407) 658-2479 or E-mail at
mfcbinfo@bellsouth.net. Looking forward to seeing many of you at the Annual June Awards
Luncheon and hope you all enjoy the summer!
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
BIRTHDAY PEOPLE
JUNE
10 - Catherine Potter
11 - Mildred Murphy
12 - Betty Sparrow
20 - Louis Williams
JULY
7 - Joseph Stadnik
8 - Connie Stolp
10 - Jackie Gideons
21 - Michael Collins
22 - Ken Norman
31 - Larry Turnbull
Back to Table of Contents
Back to MFCB Newsletters
Back to MFCB Main Page
FCB Home Page